Dagon Rising(52)
Before Tony could consider it further, Diamond gestured at him to disembark. The big man’s features were impassive and serious. Tony couldn’t resist needling him.
“You don’t say much, do you, Diamond?”
“I don’t need to.”
They disembarked and stood on the runway. The whine of the jet engines faded and then died. A hot breeze whipped across the clearing, ruffling Tony and Clark’s hair. They stood looking at each other and then turned toward the jungle. Even from this distance, they could both hear the all-too familiar sound.
CLICK-CLICK! CLICK-CLICK! CLICK-CLICK!
“Fuck me,” Tony said. “There must be hundreds of them.”
“Why are we just standing here?” Clark glanced nervously toward the tree line and then back to Amethyst. “Shouldn’t we be taking cover?”
The younger man smiled calmly. “There’s no need.”
“No need?” Clark gaped at him.
“The fuck do you mean there’s no need?” Tony wheeled on Amethyst. “You saw that shit when we were landing, same as we did. Those damn things are all over the island, and judging by that sound, they’re heading this way, too. We need to get to some place safe. Secure.”
Amethyst shrugged. “I can assure you both, there is not a safer place on Naranu than where we are currently standing. As long as we remain inside the circle, neither the Clickers nor anything else can hurt us.”
“The circle?” Tony glanced around. “What fucking circle?”
“Do you mean those standing stones?” Clark pointed at the white stones Tony had noticed when they were landing.
Amethyst nodded. “I do indeed. You catch on quick, Mr. Arroyo. Perhaps it was fate that delivered you to our operation after all.”
Tony stared at the circle of white stones. They were spaced evenly—about ten feet apart, encircling the clearing and the landing strip. Each one stood four feet high and was roughly rectangular. All of the stones had a strange symbol carved on the side of them. The jungle grew thick beyond them.
“So,” Tony said, “do they have electronic eyes inside of them or something? Little red beams of light—give off a silent alarm somewhere if you walk between them?”
“No,” Amethyst said. “Not quite. They form a circle of protection, Tony. I can’t really go into detail right now, as we have more pressing matters to deal with. Suffice to say, I meant it when I said that this is the safest place on the island.”
“I’d feel a lot safer,” Tony replied, “if I had a fucking gun in my hand.”
“Indeed.” Amethyst turned to Diamond and nodded. “Lead on.”
The big man waved his hand, indicating that they should follow him. The group fell in line behind him and walked quickly across the tarmac. Tony wondered what the pilots and the stewardess were doing. They hadn’t left the plane. Were they just going to sit inside, waiting for the others to return?
“That’s exactly what they’re going to do,” Ruby said, answering his unspoken question.
Tony sighed. “You know, I really wish you’d stop doing that.”
They approached the small white shack at the end of the runway. As they drew closer, Tony noticed that there was a symbol painted on the door of the shack. It appeared to be the same design as on the stones. Diamond reached for the door handle and turned the knob. Tony arched an eyebrow, surprised that the door was unlocked. Diamond stepped inside the shed.
“You guys always leave your shit unlocked?”
“Why?” Onyx asked.
“Well, aren’t you worried about the natives ripping you off?”
“They can’t,” Amethyst said. “You’re not understanding, Tony. Nothing can pass through the circle of protection unless we allow it. Not the Clickers. Not the Dark Ones. And not the island’s inhabitants. The same applies to the shed. Had you or Mr. Arroyo tried to open the door, it would have remained closed.”
“But I thought I was special.” Tony couldn’t resist teasing them again. “I thought I was one of the seven most important people in the universe?”
“You are,” Onyx confirmed.
“And that,” Diamond said, reemerging from the shack, “is why you get to carry one of these.”
He handed Tony a black M16 rifle. Tony took the weapon from him and checked it over. Then he laughed.
“Now we’re talking! And this ain’t semi-auto, like the ones you buy at the gun store.”
“I assume you know how to use it?” Diamond asked, producing a handgun. “And this, as well?”
Tony nodded, and took the smaller weapon from him. “Nice. A .45 ACP. Hell, it almost feels like I’m back home.”